Find the Hidden Mickey in the Ford's Theater Room!

On my vacation back to Illinois in late May, I resolved that I would do the tourist thing and go to Springfield to visit the new Lincoln Museum. While I did enjoy it, and did learn a few new things about the President, it definitely left me with an odd feeling. Not quite disappointment or anger, but not quite admiration or approval either.

This explains my feelings

The whole place seemed rather Disney-fied. From the slick films, to the construction of the exhibits, to the cafeteria with the cutesy food names, it felt like I was in a new Disney theme zone at the Magic Kingdom, HistoryLand, or something of that sort.

Now, this isn't an entirely negative feeling. The museum had some really neat exhibits and artifacts. The life-size recreation of the cabinet room with Lincoln reading the Emancipation Proclamation was awesome, the political cartoon room was awesome, and the recreation of the casket lying in state at the Old Capitol in Springfield almost made you feel like you really were there. It is most definitely a way to introduce the common man to Lincoln, even though there is a little too much deification of the man.

However, I can't help but feel the Disney slickness of the exhibits cheapens the power, and integrity, of the museum somewhat. Also, various rooms of the museum being sponsored by corporations made me a little uneasy, and worries me about a possible precedent being set for our national and state park. Theme-park history is a little dangerous, and can easily slide into something that is neither historical nor particularly entertaining.

In the end, however, I think it is a definite positive, and a fine anchor for the prospective tourism industry in Central Illinois. Lincoln is still one of the dominating figures of our culture, and in this time of political mediocrity, the lessons to be learned from his successes (and failures) are very important.

P.S.: Here is the second article to go with the first one. Too bad they didn't go with the hot stove idea for the Law Office room.

Gettysburg Trip Photos are Up!

Huzzah, the photos from my recent trip to Gettysburg, Antietam, and Shenandoah NP are up. You can visit them here.

I will have a narrative of the trip sometime in the near future.

Photo of the Week

Starting today, and continuing every Friday, I will be featuring a Photo of the Week from my collection. In addition to the picture, I will be including a short essay that relates to the picture.

Glacier Point High

There are many places in this world that do not live up to their reputations. Too many times I have been disappointed because works of art, scenic vistas, and other things have failed to reach my expectations. Fortunately, Glacier Point in Yosemite is not one of those places.

Standing thousands of feet above the busy Yosemite valley, Glacier Point is one of the grand treasures of our wonderful National Park system. A visit to Yosemite is simply incomplete without a stop here.

There are many wonderful sites to be seen from Glacier Point. Waterfalls, granite formations, and other wonders are to be found. Above all to be seen from this vantage point is Half-Dome.

A wonder of nature, it is truly a spectacle to behold. Whether standing on the valley floor, at the entrance to the valley, or above the valley at Glacier Point, Half-Dome commands your attention.

Of the sites that all Americans should see in their lifetime, Yosemite surely must be near the top. I feel fortunate that I was able to experience the grandeur of Glacier Point, and look forward to the day when I can return.